Malphene is by no means the first lost soul Cyrene has encountered, and she knows full well how to persuade and 'comfort' such poor unfortunates.
"There's no need to blush, my lady." She purrs in Malphene's ear. "Not now, but soon, I'll show you exactly which of those tales were scandalous, and which were true." She punctuates the whisper with a gentle nip on Malphene's earlobe and enjoys the shiver that runs through the noblewoman. "Won't that be fun?"
Distracted by her new toy, whose dress may not have been ripped deliberately, but is rather fetching, Cyrene doesn't pay much attention in the next couple of rooms.
Lope's eyes tingle when Malphene manifests his father is dead, his look over the bully turning something more understanding.
He parks this idea for now and looks down at the crossbow "Indeed, this radiates a strong aura of divination. And it is of masterwork manufacture" he tilts the device, scanning the aura with his other hand "This is actually a very special weapon, able to sharpen the aim even in the worst circumstances, but I can feel it has powers beyond, perhaps they can be unlocked as glory is brought back to Taldor."
Lope chuckles at Lady Urbaen's comment "So much unnecessary suffering really"
The Aldori examines the strange circular cuts in the wax chest "I share your feeling Lord Botole. But would that not push forward for the war rather than appease it? Internal infighting tends to end with just a weaker community, but it is sometimes a matter of survival..."
When it comes to the other room, Lope randomly examines some of the shelves and locks, casting detect magic to quickly find out anything remarkable.
Lope picks up a figurine of a raven out of the treasure stash "Look what we have here, a silver raven figurine. This one can do for trusting messenger companion"
When everyone is ready, Lope will move to the easternmost door and inspect it, including magical auras, before trying to open it "I do not know if we are going to find an exit any time soon, perhaps we should consider resting?"
Apparently this Trant woman doesn't understand sarcasm.
But Triphylla can make no more of her and turns away from her prattling. While the others investigate the properties of the truly exquisite crossbow, she has a private moment with her fellow halfling.
The wax menagerie is a hideous affair that she wishes she could set to flame. She moves on quickly to the storage room.
But everything is caked with dust and uninteresting. Lope makes a real find, something actually useful in all this old junk.
"Good eye, Lope. I've heard about such things but never actually imagined I would see one. I wonder what it's doing in this old dungeon."
Valeria was a bit uncomfortable with Julia but she was uncomfortable being around everyone. They always asked what happened to her in the Wound or made some reference to it and she always wanted them to stay off the topic. Still Julia had once been a close friend and Valeria knew she needed to start at least trying to reconnect to people again.
Valeria was silent at first as they started to look through the display room, as though she was ignoring Julia, but after a few moments she finally started to speak, "It is hard to talk about Jules, I was barely there before Kenabres fell and I," she choked up a bit and paused to collect herself before continuing, "and then it was all screaming and fighting and dying," she shuddered, "if you were lucky anyway. If you were not you were either slowly killed as you fought or taken by the demons for their fun. They really like paladins by the way Julia, did you know that, clerics and priests too but especially paladins."
Valeria sighed and then went silent as she tried to decide what, if anything, she would say next. She was silent for several minutes before she finally added, "Obviously I was not so luck as to die. I...I was captured quickly and taken to the Midnight Isles where......." Valeria had gone silent and here eyes were wide though they were not looking into the present anymore but seeing the past, the horrors visited upon her were again flitting through her mind. Given what she must have been experienced, the terrible things that had to have been done to her, in addition to the terror there was almost...arousal?! What must have happened to her to generate this kind of reaction ?
Lope smiles "The raven can be very useful as a magical pet if you like it" he offers to the others.
The Aldori cannot avoid listening to Valeria's conversation to Julia, he frowns a bit worried, but then tries to bring the woman out of the dangerous thoughts "Well now you are alive, and only have to deal with a mad Emperor possibly dead, and a growing civil war, a much joyful experience" he tries to laugh to break the mournful mood, before pushing forward through the door.
"Couldn't agree more. The natural order was upended the moment Stavian ordered his Guard to start killing everyone. Although if he had not feared so many were plotting against him would he have bothered? And did not the six of us aggressively pedal Eutropia's interests, laundered through the quiet machinations of Martella Lotheed? Oh well, unless you're one of the ivory tower denizens who had everything to lose, the world is a better place today than it was yesterday, civil war and all!"
While Lope opens one door, Triphylla opens the other. (C)
Lope picks up a figurine of a raven out of the treasure stash
The moment Lope managed to open the glass cabinet a powerful electrical discharge flooded the room! Everyone inside got a nasty jolt. Poor Lope was knocked unconscious with steam rising from his body, fortunately he was still breathing...
<--- FAIL
"Obviously I was not so luck as to die. I...I was captured quickly and taken to the Midnight Isles where......." Valeria had gone silent and here eyes were wide though they were not looking into the present anymore but seeing the past, the horrors visited upon her were again flitting through her mind. Given what she must have been experienced, the terrible things that had to have been done to her, in addition to the terror there was almost...arousal?! What must have happened to her to generate this kind of reaction ?
"Where you experienced things that would have broken most mortals for good." Cyrene says, her voice surprisingly gentle. "Don't focus on what happened. Focus on the fact that you survived it. That is what mat- what in the hells?"
Through the doorway to the next room comes a large flash of light and crackling sounds.
"Oh that isn't good..." Cyrene mutters, glancing to check that Malphene is safe before she heads into the room. "Healers, we need you now!"
Valeria was a bit uncomfortable with Julia but she was uncomfortable being around everyone. They always asked what happened to her in the Wound or made some reference to it and she always wanted them to stay off the topic. Still Julia had once been a close friend and Valeria knew she needed to start at least trying to reconnect to people again.
Valeria was silent at first as they started to look through the display room, as though she was ignoring Julia, but after a few moments she finally started to speak, "It is hard to talk about Jules, I was barely there before Kenabres fell and I," she choked up a bit and paused to collect herself before continuing, "and then it was all screaming and fighting and dying," she shuddered, "if you were lucky anyway. If you were not you were either slowly killed as you fought or taken by the demons for their fun. They really like paladins by the way Julia, did you know that, clerics and priests too but especially paladins."
Valeria sighed and then went silent as she tried to decide what, if anything, she would say next. She was silent for several minutes before she finally added, "Obviously I was not so luck as to die. I...I was captured quickly and taken to the Midnight Isles where......." Valeria had gone silent and here eyes were wide though they were not looking into the present anymore but seeing the past, the horrors visited upon her were again flitting through her mind. Given what she must have been experienced, the terrible things that had to have been done to her, in addition to the terror there was almost...arousal?! What must have happened to her to generate this kind of reaction ?
For several seconds Julia didn't have the faintest clue on what to say. How could she when her old childhood friend just described being taken by literal demons and dragged into the heart of the Abyss. The bard simply couldn't imagine what her friend had to endure there and a part of certainly didn't want to imagine it. The whole thing seemed like a nightmare beyond comprehension. One that would certainly drive even the strongest soul mad. If nothing else it made all of Valeria's strangeness since her return click into place. "I-I..." Julia hesitated, trying to tab into her silver tongue and finding nothing that felt like it could suffice. So instead she did the only thing that felt right in that moment. She embraced her friend suddenly in a tight hug.
"I'm sorry that happened to you, Val. No one deserves to suffer like you, especially you. You're one the kindest, noblest people I know and... and I'm so, so sorry I wasn't there for you Val. I really am. But... you're wrong. You're lucky to have to survived," she said with sudden certainty. "So as long as there's life there's hope and I'll do everything I can to help you heal from all you suffered. I swear to Shelyn that I will."
The sudden zap takes Lope completely unprepared and falls to the ground severely shocked.
The Aldori seems to breath stable at the least, and fortunately the group just found a few healing scrolls that can be of use for him now.
Valeria managed to collect herself and realized maybe she had gone to far in what she had admitted. Cyrene spoke to her and it was a comfort to hear what she said, equally as comforting was the Julia promising to do all she could to help her heal as well. Valeria smiled slightly and said, "You're both right. Not everything has turned out for the worst. Though since you mentioned her Shelyn did turn her back on me during my captivity. It didn't take long, the first few times she stayed by my side but that quickly changed once the Abyss seeped into my soul." There was hurt there, that was obvious, but Valeria didn't seem as broken up about it as she should be.
Valeria stroked the holy symbol she wore, one most definitely not Shelyn's and said, "It ultimately led me to be part of something new and to seek redemption for my weakness under another goddess. We are the Exiled, those who that even on the darkest Midnight can one find Beauty and through it Redemption."
It was about then that Valeria heard the sudden sound and her head looked in the direction it had come from. her eyes widened a bit in panic but stroked the holy symbol and felt calmer. Valeria quickly headed to see what had happened and heal the injured. Seeing the state Lope was in Valeria quickly approached and cast a prayer to her goddess and then touched him with a hand wreathed in pale gold energy.
Lope wasn't the only one hurt, Lord Botoles was knocked unconscious and Triphylla and Pelligrina got extremely nasty shocks which threw them back several feet.
Once it was clear the electric trap wasn't about to go off again, everyone piled in to help. Valeria's magic revived Lope and there was much discussion of what had happened.
Lady Urbaen observed, "As nasty as this was, I think we can take some solace that this was intended to disable not kill... After all this must be the old senate building, it wouldn't do to have crispy fried corpses strewn about."
After a moment to take a breather, Triphylla opened the door to the north, finding it leads into a long cob-web filled corridor running east to west.
Lope opens the eastern most door which opens onto another box shaped room . To his alarm he finds a fearsome looking winged beast posed in the southeastern corner. Two wolves stand in similar poses in the northern corners, while an immense coiled serpent poises itself in the southwestern corner, as if ready to strike. A small elephant stands in the center of the room, its head drooping far too low, and the top of its neck torn open. Thick cords of rope hoist avian creatures of every size along the ceiling, with an impressive eagle taking up the most space above. Clearly this is some sort of taxidermy collection. Another door exits to the north.
Lope's eyes open to find Valeria's hands over him and his shock mostly gone "Never been so happy to see a friendly face again"
Still with some effort he does stand up "I thought those rays were the last thing I would see... thanks again Valeria. You have saved my life twice today..." the man nods truly grateful for the cares.
After the doors opening it seems clear there is no exit nearby "It seems it is going to be hard getting out of here today. And I am clearly tired after the Senate, the save room and this fights with undead and traps... I could really benefit from a rest."
With the group a bit of broken and the recent experience, Lope avoids to touch things here and just gives an overall glance from the entrance.
Lope makes it back into the central room and sits in a corner, setting his blade to a side "I am not going to test my luck on whether that shocking thing can recharge or not. This seems a much better place for a nap"
The man taps his belly softly "I don't suppose we have any food here around. So much wine and so little food in this long and interesting evening"
He will agree with taking watch rounds and the one proposed by Triphylla is fine with him.
"The safe rooms would probably be, you know, safer. We should use them while they're just down the hall."
Cyrene just gives one of her languid shrugs - there are more than enough people in the group that the screams of the first to be attacked would wake the others, but she doesn't point that out.
"Yes, retreat to a safe space. The first rooms perhaps?" Taking the last watch is fine by her, unbroken sleep always being better than the divided kind.
Despite her dearest wish that her words would be some magic salve that would fix everything, it turned out Julia was more out of her death than she realized. "Shelyn would never..." was all she managed to get out before Valeria was already gone to heal a hurt Lope, leaving Julia in the hallway in rare stunned silence.
She shook her head as if that would help her make sense of what she just heard. Valeria was a holy warrior of Shelyn. The idea that goddess would abandon her in her darkest time of need was... horrifying. And yet...
Julia took in a calming breath. She just need to know more about what exactly happened to Valeria in the Abyss. Maybe that way her old friend's words would make more sense to her and she'd be better able to actually help. That was the hope anyway. Until then Julia hurried to help the others as they explored the newly revealed taxidermy room.
She look around too see anything of note there beyond the obvious but came up short.
Triphylla sees Lope get zapped and she jumps in the nick of time to avoid the worst of the sinister trap. The group rallies to heal him and soon things are back to a discussion about how exhausted everyone is. It has truly been the longest day ever.
Triphylla paces the safehouse during her watch, weapons at the ready.
"The bedrooms it is then" Lope agrees for the more comfortable place, and once there jumps over one of the beds making himself comfortable "Who would tell us we would end the night sleeping together in a secret room under the Senate"
Everyone crowds into the Voritas family safe room and the portal closes behind you with a pop. Fortunately you have a bag full of coins, so getting out again will be no problem. You had closed several secret doors behind you so you felt fairly safe, although whether you could trust all the strays you'd found was an open question.
Still the hours pass with relative peace, apart from whispered bickering between Malphene and Jowuan Zubari.
Lord Botles told the group, "Now we've had a chance to catch our breath, I hope we can can get out of here soon. We don't exactly have much in the way of food or water..."
Cyrene is a light sleeper at the best of times and the mostly-whispered argument keeps her up while it goes on. Eventually she climbs out of bed and wanders over to the conversation and takes Malphene's hand.
"This is not the time for arguing, my pretty. Come with me. Goodnight sir."
With that she leads Malphene away to the bed that she has claimed, not accepting resistance from the noblewoman until she has her perched on the mattress.
Her tail slides slowly and sensuously around Malphene's waist and down her thigh. "You could do anything you wanted, things you could never do before... I could show you, if you want..."
Nocticula knows, better than anyone, that redemption comes in many forms and if Cyrene can encourage Malphene to stand up and forge herself anew then that is a job well done. If she gets something out of it... then that's just a bonus!
Triphylla wakes with a bitter taste in her mouth and the heaviness that comes with sleeping one off. She takes the necessary time to prepare her alchemical augmentations for the day and then waits for the nobles to makes themselves presentable, or whatever it is nobles do in the morning.
"Agreed, milord. lead the way, if you please," She says this just to have a go, knowing full well he will not be leading anything.
Julia struggled to find some in the way of sleep. Not only were Jowuan and Malphene rather notably despite the whispers but her own mind was still reeling from her talk with Valeria. Knowing she wasn't going to resolve the religious disquiet she felt, Julia decided to zero in on the argument between the pair of nobles to distract herself.
After Malphene leaves with Cyrene, the songress quietly goes to Jowuan to have a little chat.
"You know," she starts with an extended drawl that sounds both parts philosophical and lackadaisical. "With everything going on one can be forgiven for wishing to unburden themselves of commitments that have become like an albatross on their neck. Shelyn knows I wouldn't want to add to worries right now."
She sits by the bed Jowuan has claimed and starts to look at him more intently as if his eyes held an answer she was in need of. [b]"I don't know all the details between you and Malphene but it seems to me she's trying to bind you something that you aren't interested in. I know you Abadarans can be sticklers for your traditions and contracts but even so, one shouldn't deny what they feel especially in regard to something like this. After all, are you really serving someone fully if your heart is not in it?"
The bard puts a hand on the man's shoulder hoping that the gesture isn't to familiar. "It's just a thought, yeah. Our situation doesn't exactly give up a whole lot of choices but this one is still yours. Remember that."
Pelligrina sticks with her estimation of Lope being the best protector available and shares his bed.
The next morning she spends time with her mirror in preparation for the day, and is eager to move on and find a way out afterward.
Lope will give Pellegrina some conversation on magic, having appreciated she knows about the topic, and share with her the found scrolls in case she wants to borrow some "I found this in one book at the Archives. What do you think?"
The next day, with a fresher mind, Lope studies again the scrolls they found, trying to see if they are anything useful.
"Look at this, a scroll of invisibility! This can come useful"
Cantrips (4/level)
dancing lights
detect magic
mage hand
prestidigitation
Level 1 (2/day)
color spray (Will DC 15)
shield
"Cannot agree more with you Lord Botles" Lope smiles while tapping softly his belly "Though if someone is really hungry, we can use that wand we found yesterday"
The Aldori will let the nobles lead the way, but he will want to check the western door too before heading into the northern corridor.
Nervously she downed half a glass, a sinful waste of an excellent wine and told you, "I've uh never done anything like this before, please don't hurt me. Well not too much...
Lope opens the westernmost door to find a room stuffed full of ancient flags and banners, all of which hang motionless. The centre of the room is dominated by a wooden pillar from which sprout out dozens of flags. Wooden racks line the south and west walls, each bearing up a unique banner of its own. Two additional banner racks lie on the floor in the northeastern corner of the room, their flags pulled away and inked with dozens of circles.
"This place is wild. The wax menagerie, the taxidermy zoo, and now this arsenal of flags. I wonder at the purpose of it all. Are all of these retired exhibits from the museum in the Senate complex? And here's more of those circles."
"They're meaningless, and yet deliberate. My grandmother told a story once of a famous painter who secured a commission with the Emperor by drawing a single perfect circle freehanded. But here there are some formulas. My mother would sometimes make alchemical notations in a similar fashion. Whoever did this must be brilliant, if not particularly disciplined."
She waits for the rest of the group to assemble before opening the only door along the longest wall. (f)
Then she sets to work, using the other set of succubus skills. The ones that leave people screaming in a good way.
-----------------------
Given the choice between following Lope, who has already triggered at least one trap, and Triphylla who seems to have a decent head on her shoulder, Cyrene follows the halfling, skulking at the back of the group as is her wont.
Pelligrina makes some effort to engage with Lope since he seems to be very interested in the subject. She isn't very interested in it herself; she just happens to know a some stuff her mirror taught her. As soon as she can take the conversation in that direction, Pelligrina tries using the scrolls as a way to get out of further talk, offering to take any or all of them off his hands since she can use them. She just wants some sleep.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pelligrina stays toward the rear as the group continues its journey the next day. She more or less agrees with Triphylla on the things they're finding. "Probably storage for the museum that was forgotten about and then lost over the years."
As for the circles and formulas: "Maybe not so much undisciplined as untrained. I'm not a mathematician but what I can follow among the formulas seems to be solved correctly, but the notation system looks like it partially formal and partially invented, as if the author of them had to invent what wasn't learned."
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Sir Gryphus was interested in the flags too, he had been very reserved up until now but he pointed at one of the flags and said, "Good heavens, thats the regimental colors of the XVII elephant legion! They got wiped out over six hundred years ago, a noble but doomed last stand in Cheliax if I recall my history correctly."
Turning to Pelligrina he said, "I think this area actually was a museum originally, it's part of the old senate building that burned down before the current one was raised on top. We're still in Oppara, although whether that's good news rather depends on what's going on out there..."
Lope just lets Pelligrina have the scrolls as she seems to know how to put them to use.
"Strange" Lope comments about the circles without being able to add anything else "Good point Sir Gryphus, it would make sense an old museum for everyone forgotten, it makes for a good safe heaven in case of a sudden attack"
The Aldori follows Triphylla into the western part of the corridor and readies his rapier for whatever is behind that door .
Valeria was relieved that everyone seemed to have calmed down and she finished healing them up before she rested. The next morning, at least she thought it was morning since she just woke up, Valeria looked around and remembered where she was. Once they were ready to set out she followed Cyrene as they began to explore.
Valerie can't help noticing from her position that the succubus has a great arse, and apparently knows it given the sway in her hips and the flirtatious smile she shoots over her shoulder at Valeria.
Triphylla walked towards the only northern door on the long corridor, on the way she notices a door to the south west . Once everyone was assembled, with the party of nobles and senators standing at a safe distance, Triphylla opened the door to reveal a ten-foot-wide hallway which leads north for roughly forty feet before abruptly ending in a wall of dirt and broken wood. There's a door to the west .
Julia was walking with the others when she noticed that Malphene had quite a marks on her neck that that she immediately recognized as hickies. It took only following the young lady's lovesick eyes to Cyrene for her to unravel the rest of the story. It seemed that the two of them had managed to have a bit of fun last night.
The bard was on verge on gently ribbing Malphene on her late night activities when she she suddenly recognized something else entirely as well. Something that sent her heart into a panic. "We need to move out!" she screams, already grabbing the closest of her companions near her back to stop them in their tracks. "Look! There are wires snaking around the wreckage up ahead. The western door too. If we trip one of them or try to open it this whole place will come down upon our heads."
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Julia's alarm stops Triphylla in her tracks. "You just saved the lot of us," the halfling says quietly, as if speaking too loudly will set off the trap.
She swallows fear and reaches for her tool kit. "Wait back in the hall," she suggests to the group.
What is it with this crazy place? I half expect our mad mathematician to be lurking behind that door...
Her stomach grumbles. The air is dank and dusty. It is a miracle Julia spotted the wires, but now under scrutiny they are plainly visible. Triphylla takes her time, following the path of the crossing trigger back to the mechanism and it is there she concentrates her efforts.
Pelligrina considers Sir Gryphus's suggestion for a moment.
"That makes quite a lot of sense. I do know the Senate building has been reconstructed atop older versions more than once. It might also explain the safe rooms. Members of the Senate, at least some of them, would be aware of the old floor plans under the new building. Rather than building such rooms from scratch beneath the foundations, they could simply claim and remodel the rooms from before."
Her line of thought is interrupted by the warning from Julia and Triphylla's order to vacate to the hall. She waits there tensely.
Cyrene catches sight of Malphene looking at her and shoots the noblewoman a smouldering look when everyone else is staring at the trap. Luckily Trip seems eminently capable of dealing with it.
Lope halts as Julia calls the group, fortunately he noticed the strange signs in the door just in time too "Good Triphylla. Just tell if we can somehow help"
The Aldori makes some room for the halfling to work comfortably and looks around, unable to avoid seeing the marks at Malphene's back "A harsh night? Are you ok?"
If Triphylla manages to unwire the collapse, Lope will move to the west room.
Malphene turns bright pink at Lopes words and replies, "Erm..." as she self consciously adjusts her dress to better hide the scratches and bruises, "Nothing to worry about, I don't suppose many of us got much sleep."
Triphylla was certain she'd disabled the trap and pronounced the door as safe. Imistos was very impressed with this saying to her
From the back Sir Gryphus scowled at Imistos but said nothing.
Lope opened the door, revealing what must once have been a reception. A greying counter extends from the eastern wall, overshadowed by a faded, curling portrait of a group of several Taldan nobles. Comical alterations adorn the portrait, with red and green markings adding in stink lines, ridiculous mustaches, and other odd embellishments.
There are two exits, one to the west and one to the north. You're not alone however, you disturbed a funny looking creature with redish scaled and a sort of misshapen leather hat thing, who was inspecting the desk before yammering at you excitedly in what sounded like a number of different languages.
The funny looking creature gesticulates wildly at a collection of brick'a brack it had with it.
The defaced portrait makes Pelligrina giggle. But her amusement doesn't last for long. When she sees the odd, excitable creature looking for customers it's so off the wall a question it takes her a moment to respond. She tilts her head in puzzlement and answers noncommittally.
"Um... ez dakit. Ez dut uste hemen dendaririk aurkitzea espero genuenik. Zer saltzen ari zara? Bezerorik izan al duzu hemen behera?"
Lope takes note looking back at Cyrene and nods smiling "Good, just tell us if you are in trouble"
"Kaixo... eh... jauna? Biboteen hobekuntza politak hor..." the Aldori looks up at the modified paintings.
"Hi... erm... sir? Nice moustache improvements in there..."
Lope basically waits for Pelligrina being answered, but he still casts detect magic to see if what is being offered is magical, and he smiles curious "Seems our little friend has some magical stuff and wants to sell it"
Triphylla almost laughs when the door opens and there is a... kobold found to be causing so much mischief. She takes another minute to properly store her tool kit.
She shrugs, knowing nothing of what to make of this situation. To her halfling friend's compliment she smiles and winks.
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Though Julia can't make heads or tails of any of the languages that the little creature speaks, she can at least tell that it doesn't mean any harm. At least not yet. If anything it seemed excited to see them. "This little fella is trapped in an underground museum and the first thing it does when it sees new people is try to sell them something? I must say, our little friend would go far in Oppara's markets with that type of hustle," she jests with a chuckle.
Cyrene doesn't speak any of the languages being thrown around so she contents herself with leaning against the wall to one side, making sure she can keep an eye on everyone, and then starts idly deciding what she's going to do to Malphene at the next opportunity.
To Pelligrina the strange creature replies enthusiastically.
Potions:
cure light wounds (8), potions of jump (3), keen senses (3), acid (6), alchemist’s fire (3), antiplague (3), barkskin (1), remove disease (1)
Wands:
cure light wounds (10 charges)
aqueous orb (1 charge)
Misc:
bracers of armor +1, cloak of resistance +1, tanglefoot bags (2), thunderstones (2)
To Lope he starts trying to sell a midnight blue cloak before yammering excitedly.
Imistos replied softly in their language.